Well, I'm sure most have you have heard about this but just in case......
I hate to say it but it IS nice to see someone else speak up about Curb's practices. Glad to know that they are sharing and spreading "the love" with more than one act over there at Curb Records. 


Tim McGraw upset by label's decision
By JOHN GEROME � 2 days ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) � Tim McGraw says his record label, Curb Records, released a greatest hits package of his songs against his wishes and without his involvement.
McGraw, 41, said in a statement Tuesday that he's been working on a new studio album for more than a year, playing some of the new songs on tour and wanted to release the CD this fall.
But instead, he said, Curb Records released the greatest hits collection � his third overall and second since just 2006 � last week to extend his recording contract term.
"I'm saddened and disappointed that my label chose to put out another hits album instead of new music," McGraw said. "I've only had one studio album since my last hits package. It has to be just as confusing to the fans as it is to me."
The singer said he had no involvement in the creation or presentation of the record, "Greatest Hits 3."
The 12-track disc includes McGraw hits going back to 1995 up to his current single, "Let It Go." It also includes two tracks not previously released on any of McGraw's albums: "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" with Tracy Lawrence and Kenny Chesney, and "Nine Lives" with the rock group Def Leppard.
"Sure I love the songs and I don't want to take anything away from all the creative people who were part of making those records. But the whole concept is an embarrassment to me as an artist.
"In the spirit of the election year, I would simply say to my fans 'I'm Tim McGraw and I don't approve their message,'" he said.
Curb Records Executive Vice President and General Manager Dennis Hannon said in a statement that he had several conversations with McGraw's representatives about all aspects of "Greatest Hits 3." He also said the CD is projected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart this week, though he expressed concern that it was released "right at the peak of the collapse of the economic and finance markets."
"We are going to work hard to try to take the current single 'Let It Go' to number one in hopes that the economic climate is improving and that sales will also improve."
Nielsen SoundScan releases the previous week's sales figures on Wednesdays. Billboard uses the figures to calculate its country albums chart.
McGraw has been with Curb, an independent label, since his 1993 debut. Other artists on the roster include LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina and Rodney Atkins.
McGraw had a similar dispute with Curb Records in 2000 when he wanted release an album of new material, but the label instead put out his first greatest hits package in time for the holiday season.
On the Net:
The following is from http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=880369
The logic may be that, by releasing the hits album first, Curb indefinitely delays the release of any following album, thereby extending the singer's contract.
"You don't want to release records on top of one another," says Jessie Schmidt, McGraw's publicist, "so this will basically extend his contract."
Asked whether it's possible for the artist to break his contract with Curb, Schmidt said that it is, but it's highly unlikely that he will.
"Tim has been with Curb since the beginning of his career, since 1993," Scmidt says, "and to break a contract, it's just so much more involved, so no, I don't think he's looking to do that."
Normally, when it comes to releasing a record, the studio and the artist negotiate a date. In this case, however, the decision appears to have been unilateral.
"He disagreed, and they did it anyway," Schmidt says.
So the question remains: Are McGraw's fans supposed to support him financially by purchasing the hits album? Or should they boycott it and wait for the next one?
"That's hard to judge," says Schmidt. "Obviously, his fans are going to purchase it because they do love him, but he just wanted them to know that he didn't support this decision."
She adds that McGraw will not be doing any press or publicity for Greatest Hits 3.
But wait! There's more! I LOVE this person's take on the situation. Couldn't have said it better myself.
The following is from http://froggyweb.com/?p=993
Tim McGraw vs. His Record Label
By Hoppy Gilmore � Oct 15th, 2008 � Share:
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Yesterday Tim McGraw released this statement to the press:
�I am saddened and disappointed that my label chose to put out another hits album instead of new music. I�ve only had one studio album since my last hits package. It has to be just as confusing to the fans as it is to me. I had no involvement in the creation or presentation of this record. Sure, I love the songs and I don�t want to take anything away from all the creative people who were a part of making those records. But the whole concept is an embarrassment to me as an artist. In the spirit of an election year, I would simply say to my fans �I�m Tim McGraw, and I don�t approve their message.��
So Tim�s record label released this statement:
Executive V.P. and General Manager, Dennis Hannon indicated that he had numerous conversations with McGraw�s representatives with respect to all aspects of the Greatest Hits 3 album and the good news is that the album is anticipated to debut as the number one album on the Billboard chart. Nevertheless, we share Tim McGraw�s disappointment with the first week�s sales levels and we acknowledge that unfortunately the week that this album was released was right at the peak of the collapse of the economic and finance markets. We are going to work hard to try to take the current single �Let It Go� to number one in hopes that the economic climate is improving and that sales will also improve.
Why would his record label do such a thing?
Money.
That�s it. Money.
Tim McGraw makes his record label lots of money. And by putting out another Greatest Hits CD they are giving themselves another year with Tim. He�s ready to release new music. But if they sit on that music it gives them extra time to cash in on Tim�s success.
Sure, there�s a couple new songs on the Greatest Hits package. Tim�s record label is banking on you to buy the CD so you can hear the new songs.
In fact, if you read his record label�s response again you will notice that all they care about is the money:
[W]e share Tim McGraw�s disappointment with the first week�s sales levels and we acknowledge that unfortunately the week that this album was released was right at the peak of the collapse of the economic and finance markets. We are going to work hard to try to take the current single �Let It Go� to number one in hopes that the economic climate is improving and that sales will also improve.
Tim didn�t mention anything about first week�s sales! He said it was unfair to his fans that he release another Greatest Hits package with only one CD out since the last Greatest Hits package!
Some Nashville record labels are forcing artists to do things that are detrimental to their craft. They need to spit out new CDs way too quickly. As soon as a CD comes out the artist has to start writing for the next CD. That results in ithe artists not getting the time to put out their best material. We (radio stations) aren�t given the time to play songs off their CDs that we believe would be hits. I can�t tell you how many times I get calls from people asking me, �Why didn�t you play X song off of their CD?� Why? Because we�re supposed to support their new CD.
I subscribe to a �Quote of the Day� service and today�s quote couldn�t be more fitting. It�s from John Cleese (of Monty Python fame): �If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.�
I hope someone from Nashville is reading this.
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